So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1 NLT)‍

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We are in our second week of the summer series in Hebrews – The Drift. It seems that the whole series title came out of this verse – which is where the only use of the word “drift” is found in the book of Hebrews. However, the theme of drifting is present in other terms such as “falling away,” “turning away,” or “abandoning your faith.”

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Drift - What comes to mind for you?

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Maybe it’s watching snow blow into a drift – piled up where the wind blows it. Or perhaps you like speed and trying to drift through a turn – or white-knuckling it when your teenager thinks this is fun while you’re trying to teach them to drive?! Do you struggle with keeping your focus? Does your mind drift to other places when it should be focused? Maybe you think of doing something a bit lazily, such as letting your kayak drift down the river instead of putting much effort into paddling. All these are examples of drift.

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The author of Hebrews certainly wasn’t out hot-rodding – nor was he lazily kayaking. He may have seen sand drift, but I’m quite confident he never saw a snowdrift. However, he was certainly talking about the drift that happens when we lose focus.  

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The first chapter of Hebrews was all about Jesus and how He is the “exact representation of [God’s] nature and upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb 1: 3 ESV). Also, how Jesus is above the angels – a reminder of the authority and power of Jesus and the role of angels as heavenly beings.  Paul is making sure that his readers are reminded and that they haven’t lost their focus on who Jesus is and what sets Him apart. He spends time in chapter 1 giving many examples from the Old Testament Scriptures to prove his point and remind his readers to focus.

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And then he starts chapter 2 with some simple, but powerful words. In the New Living Translation, it starts with “so” but in other translations it reads “for this reason.” We need to stop and make sure we understand what Paul is referring to. In this case, he is referring back to how Jesus is superior to the angels, which he spent quite a bit of time discussing in chapter 1. Then, he moves on in chapter 2 verse 1 to say, “Listen very carefully to the truth.”  

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These are not hard words to understand, but they are challenging to put into practice. I often find myself nodding in assent or even answering mindlessly while I’m not truly thinking about what my husband is saying to me. I don’t recommend this as a great marital practice! I think our attention spans have gotten worse as technology has become more and more prevalent in our lives. We want things quickly – including getting to the point! We also want to be entertained. Our minds have a hard time staying focused – they drift to other places.

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We need to be reminded to listen carefully. In this case, Paul is telling us to listen to the truth. Truth is also something that culture wants to constantly redefine. Culture would say that truth shifts and drifts. But Jesus says that He is truth in John 14:6 - “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” And in John 17:17, we learn that God’s Word is truth. God’s Word doesn’t drift. Jesus is the same – yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).

So, how do we keep from drifting? How can we prevent mindless scrolling that leads us places that get us far off course in our use of time and our thinking?

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We must be intentional about listening carefully to truth. That means that we need to read God’s Word. We can’t know the truth unless we are reading it. You may want to download a Bible app that will read the Word to you as you drive! Listen carefully though. Don’t let your mind wander and drift as you’re reading or listening. This takes training and focus.

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We need to spend time listening to what the Holy Spirit will teach us through God’s Word. Do you invite His presence when you read the Bible? Try it! Ask Him to show you something each day.

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We need to worship together. Focused. Reminded of the truth of Jesus and coming before God in worship.  

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We need others to encourage us and help us notice when we start to lose our focus and begin to drift. A couple of people who hold us accountable – who know us well – are necessary for staying focused. A small group helps us listen carefully together and care for one another to prevent drifts.

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So, where do you need to take a next step this week to make sure you are listening carefully and preventing yourself from drifting? Let’s hold firm to the truth together, ACF!